By Nkechi Eze
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ali Mohammed before Justice Mohammed Maina of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri over an alleged fraud involving N9 million.
According to a statement signed by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the defendant was brought before the court on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to answer a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N9,000,000.00 (Nine Million Naira).
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Ali Mohammed, on or about September 2022 in Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N9,000,000.00 (Nine Million Naira) from Nuhu Alfa which you received through your purported petroleum product supplier bank account name; Ali Bako with the account number; 3138390814 domiciled with First Bank Plc under the false pretence that same is meant for an investment into the business of purchase and supply of petroleum products, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
When the charges were read to him, Mohammed pleaded not guilty. Following his plea, prosecution counsel, S.O. Saka, prayed the court for a trial date and further requested that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending the commencement of trial.
Justice Maina granted the prosecution’s prayer and adjourned the matter till Wednesday, September 24, 2025, for the commencement of hearing. The judge also ordered that Mohammed be remanded at the Maiduguri Correctional Centre until the adjourned date.
The arraignment underscores the Commission’s sustained resolve to bring suspected fraudsters to justice, particularly those preying on unsuspecting individuals through fraudulent investment schemes disguised as legitimate business ventures.
